Stuff to Do With Toddlers in Maine

Museums

• If you are looking for a pint-size museum experience that is ideal for your toddler, check out one of Maine's children's museums. The Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine's (kitetails.org) Toddler Park is an interactive soft play area just for kids younger than age 3. The Children's Discovery Museum (childrensdiscoverymuseum.org) in Augusta features an art studio, music area, tree house and ocean touch tank for kids to try out. Another Maine museum option is the Portland Museum of Art (portlandmuseum.org). Help your toddler to get an early start, learning about art, with the museum's Family Voices cell phone tour or the interactive Stop and Look stations that come complete with iPods packed with kid-friendly tips and questions.

Outdoors Activities

• Outdoorsy families can take advantage of the rich nature scenery of Maine. Maine's Old Orchard Beach (oldorchardbeachmaine.com) is much more than just sand and surf. With a beach-side amusement park, a water-park and family camping, your toddler can enjoy plenty of attractions. The state's Division of Parks and Public Lands operates state parks (maine.gov/doc/parks/index.shtml) has an array of options for camping getaways for families. Another option is to take a trip to the National Park Service's Acadia Park (nps.gov/acad/index.htm). You can take your toddler camping at Acadia and pick up a Junior Ranger activity book from the visitor's center for your little one to flip through.

Classes

• The Cumberland County Gymnastics Center (ccgcmaine.com) has a toddler class for kids who are walking through 3 years of age. Your little one can play on the mats, swing on the rings or roll in the activity area. If dance is more your toddler's style, she can take a pre-ballet class at the Dance Studio of Maine (dancestudioofmaine.com/classes-children) in Gorham. Musical toddlers can try Southern Maine's Kindermusik (kindermusikbyplaytime.yourvirtuoso.com) Sandpiper class for kids ages 18 months through 3 years.

Indoor Play

• Take him to one of Maine's indoor play areas for a day of bouncing, jumping and rolling. The Playroom (maineplayplace.com) in Warren has open play for infants and older. Your toddler can enjoy the bouncers, ball pit and indoor climbers. The Peek-a-Boo Children's Center (peekaboocenter.com) in Westbrook has indoor structures that stimulate the toddler's senses and provide ample opportunities for pretend play such as the doll nursery, pirate ship, tree house, train set, construction zone and play kitchen. Bangor's The Maine Jump (mainejump.com) features inflatables and bouncers with a special area for kids younger than 4 years of age.